PREVIEW: What you should know ahead of Orlando City, D.C. United friendlies

How team will balance two games in two days, injury update and more

February 11, 2014

Jeff Crandall

Chicago-Fire.com

Tuesday’s vs. Orlando City is make or break for some

The Chicago Fire have two games in two days to end the team’s week-long stay in Bradenton. According to assistant coach C.J. Brown, Tuesday’s match vs. Orlando the Fire coaching staff plans to mainly look at unsigned players against the USL-Pro side.

“We’re giving our trialists an opportunity to show in a big field and in a big game with our system, said Brown. “Seeing how well some of those guys deal with our system and seeing where their fitness is and their work on the ball.”

With Phase Two of preseason camp ending Wednesday and the team’s 16-day stay in Tucson looked at as the final shaping of the side heading into the 2014 season, Tuesday night’s game could serve as the final audition for unsigned draft picks and trialists.

The Fire currently have 28 signed players, plus Orr Barouch who seems set to re-join the team in Tucson after rehabbing an injury. The team also has nine unsigned players in Bradenton so it’s safe to say spots are limited as the team heads to Arizona.

Though they just played each other on Saturday, the Fire coaching staff will then plan to use Wednesday morning’s friendly vs. D.C. United as for the first team players against a more competitive opponent.

“The DC game the next day will be for our first group again to ramp their minutes up more so when we go into Tucson they’re able to a full 90 minutes,” Brown said.

Injury Report

Unavailable for selection on Saturday due to minor injuries, Fire defender Lovel Palmer and midfielder Yazid Atouba have trained the past two days and will be available for selection in either of this week’s matches.